Catch for camera fronts



July 3, 1928.

1,675,529 c. A. BORNMANN cuczi FOR CAMERA FRONTS Filed Aug. 1, 1927 .INVENTOR. CARL A. BORNHA/VN ATTOZEY Paten ed J l 3 UNITED STATES 1,675,529 PATENT OFFICE.

CARL a. scanner-m, or BrneHAM'roN, new YORK, assreuon, BY MESNE nssren- MENTS, Tone-FA ANSCO CORIEATI01\I, or BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, A COR- PORATION OFJNEW YORK.

CATCTI FOR CAMERA FBONTS.

Application filed August 1, 1927. Serial No. 209,916.

which is simple in operation, inexpensive to make, and which occupies a minimum amount of space on the camera platform.

A further object is to providea sliding rail or focusing member with a cover plate therefor, which combines to provide'both the improved catch above referred to, and

tension means for maintaining the supporting leg of the platform in its adjustedposi-L tion. 7

Other objects and advantages in details of construction and operation will beapparent as the description proceeds, reference being had. to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals indicate. V

ing leg 19 is bent parallel with the platform, and then upwardly as at 21. This upwardly like parts.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the folding camera with the platform in its lowered.

position and with my improved catch there- Figure 2 is an exploded VlEWSllOWlIlg n perspective detail a camera, platform, the sliding rail or focusing device, and the cover plate therefor, and illustrating clearly my improved catch and the tension device for the supporting leg.

Figure3 is a detail side view of a part of the camera shown in Figure 1, illustrate. ing the operation of myimproved sliding;

front catch, certain parts being broken away for clearness of illustration.

Reference numeral 1 refers generally to the body of a conventional folding camera provided with the usual spool p n 2, winding key 3, carrying handle 4, hinged platform 5, shutter 6, and a view finder 7. The usual supporting brackets or braces for the platform 5 also shown at 8.

Within the body of the camera, there is provided the usual stationary rail member 9, ripen which the sliding front 10 of the camera, carrying the shutter 6, is normally slidably mounted. Also slidably mounted upon the platform 5, and in alignment with the rail member 9, is the rail member 11. Rail 11 is guided upon the platform 5 by means of the pins 12, passing through the aligned slot 13 in the rail member, and secured within suitable openings 14 in the platform 5. Any desirable and conventional form of focus adjusting device 15 may be provided on the platform 5 with suitable connections to .the rail 11 whereby the latter may be moved backward and forward on the platform 5. e

A cover plate 16 is provided to fit over the rail member 11 between the flanges thereof and is fixedly secured to the platform 5 by means of the openings 17 in the cover plate, through which the pin 12 may pass. It will be understood therefore that the slidable rail ll'is movable on the platform 1, directly beneath the cover plate 16.

The front end of the platform 5 is provided with a recess 18, through which extends downwardly a supporting leg 19, the upper end of which is provided with lateral pintles or pivot members 20, having bearing upon the platform. This end of the supportturned portion 21 extends throughthe recess '22, adjacent the front end of the rail member 11, and has engagement with the under surface of the cover plate 16. Sufficient spring tension is provided by this cover plate 16 against the upper end of the turned at right angles as at 25. The natural spring tendency of the catch 24 is such that when the recess 23 in the rail 11 underlies the catch 24, said catch will project downwardly through the recess 23 so that the upturned end 25 lies below the plane occupied by the sliding front member 10. If however, the sliding rail 11 is pulled outwardly or to the left in Figure it will be understand that the rear end 26 thereof-will engagethe free end of the catch 24, and force the same upwardly until the upturned portion'25' lies -'=in the path or the slid able front 10.

' -The operation of-my improved catch-is as;

follows e 7 Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figure 1, that is, the platform open, and the sliding rail 11" inxits normal position on the platform, the operator desir- 7 ing to make an exposure, pullsthe sliding front 10, carrying the shutter and View find-" er from off the fixedrail 9 onto the rail 11, -bringin'g said sliding front to a predeter- 2 mined position onthe' rail, usually near the 7 "front end thereof. The sliding rail= 11- is now moved outwardlythe re'quireddistance" '"forj proper focusing and the exposure made in the usual manner. 'It'willbe observed'that as the rail 11 moves forw'ardly 'over'the'platform 5, the rear end' of this railandthe adjacent end of the. fixed rail 9, the" body of the camera, become'separated, With such separation existing, if theoperator should attempt'tomove the sliding front 10 back into the'ca'mera body without first returningthe rail ll'to its normal position on the platfixed rail .9. Itisto prevent just such 'an' occurrence thatmy lmprovedcatchxhas been form," it will be seen: that'the sliding front :10 will slip'off of the rearend of the rail lland be displacedwith relationto the provided; "Assuming again th at I the sliding "rail 11 isinow slid outwardly for focusing,

".fron t lo haslbeen pulled out near the front end of the platform on the rail 11, and the promptly; upon such' outward movement of the, rail "11, the rear end 26 of the rail'will' engage' with' the catch member 24L,"which being resilient, will yield to the pressure" of the end 26, and be forced upwardly 'untill the upturned end 25 lies inthepath of the slidingffrontilO. The rear end 26 of the islidi-ng rail :11 beingdirectly underthe catch 24, and-engaging*therewith will thus/sup port the 'cat'ch in such position against accidental" displacement; If "now it should be normal position on the platform,'which by the Way is the only position in which the platform may be closed on the camera, whereupon the spring catch 24 is released of its engagement with therear end 26 of the sliding railfand is permitted to return to its normaliposition through the recess 23 therein. 'This'brings the upturned end 25 of the catch down out of the path of the sliding front, whereupon said front -may now be "pushed-back off of the sliding rail' 11 directly onto the now closely adjacent'fixed rail 9.

i It will beunderstood that many changes in de'ta'ils of construction and arrangement of the parts just described may be made 'witlrout departing from the scope ofthe in- V vention. I' do not limit myself therefore to 'theexact form shown and described other than by--*the appended claims.

I claim r 1. In combination with theplatformof a camera, a 'sli'dable'rail thereon," a fixed cover plate over said-rail between-the edges there of, a sliding front on said rail, a spring catch on said cover-platenormally out of the path of said front, Z and means on said slidable rail for 'forcingsaid catch upwardly in such pathwhenthe' rail is extended.

' 2. In'combination withthe platformof a I camera, a'slidable rail thereon, a fixed cover plate over said rail between the edges thereof, pins securing said plate to said platform and guiding said fail; a' sliding front on said rail, a spring catch struck from said cover plate andfproVided with an upturned free end, said upturned end being normally "out'of the'path' of said front, and means on said shdable rail for forcing said end" upwardly in such patlrwhen the rail is extended.

"Incombination with the platform of a camera, a slidable rail thereon, a fixedcover plate over said rail between the edges thereof, a sliding front on said rail; a spring catch 7 struck 'downwar'dly from said cover plate and provided "with an upturned free end,

saidqrail 'being provided iwith an opening normally iyingbeneath said 'catch when said rail is not extended, whereby said upturned end will be out'of the path-of said front, and 'means on said rail'for'forc'ing said catch *upwardly into such path whensaid rail is.

extende r cana -A.- BORNMANN. 

